CHAPTER 3: The Trash Takes Itself Out

They say the truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.

Nakaupo ako sa dining chair, staring at the cold bowl of sinigang I cooked yesterday afternoon. The soup had solidified into a greasy, orange mess. Parang utak ko. Sabaw.

It was 7:00 AM. Hindi ako natulog. Not even a wink.

My eyes felt like sandpaper. My body ached from curling up on the sofa waiting for a husband who was busy warming another woman’s bed.

Ang tanga mo, Tin, I told myself for the hundredth time.

Beside the bowl of sinigang was the smashed cake box. Beside that was the Rolex. I stared at the expensive watch. Three hundred thousand pesos. That was my entire savings account. That was supposed to be for our future baby, or a down payment for a car that didn't break down every Tuesday.

Pero anong ginawa ko? Binili ko ng relo para sa lalaking tinawag akong "convenient."

Suddenly, the front door clicked.

My spine straightened. Instinctively, I wanted to run to him, ask him if he was okay, ask him if he had breakfast. Old habits die hard. But then I remembered the closet. I remembered Veronica.

Nanatili akong nakaupo.

Jason walked in. He looked... fresh. Newly showered. Amoy hotel soap. He was whistling a tune—some upbeat pop song that clashed violently with the funeral atmosphere in the kitchen.

He stopped when he saw me.

"Oh, gising ka na pala," he said casually, tossing his keys on the counter. "Ba't di ka pa bihis? Sayang araw."

I blinked. Sayang araw?

"You didn't come home," I said. My voice was raspy. Dry.

He didn't even look at me. Dumiretso siya sa ref at kumuha ng tubig. "Yeah, sorry regarding that. The meeting with the investor went late. Sobrang intense. We had to revise the proposal overnight."

Liar.

"Overnight?" I asked, my grip on the table tightening. "So, did the investor sign?"

He smirked. "Oh, definitely. Sealed the deal."

He drank the water, his Adam's apple bobbing. Seeing him so relaxed, so unbothered, made something snap inside me. He wasn't just a cheater. He was a sociopath. He could look me in the eye and lie without blinking.

"Jason," I said, standing up. "It’s our anniversary yesterday."

He paused. For a second, a flicker of annoyance crossed his face. Not guilt. Annoyance.

"Tin, not now," he sighed, putting the glass down hard. "Pagod ako sa trabaho. I’m doing this for us, okay? Can you stop being so clingy for one second?"

Clingy.

"Clingy?" My voice rose an octave. "Nag-alala ako sa'yo buong gabi! I cooked. I bought a cake. I waited!"

He turned around to face me, his expression cold. This wasn't the Jason I married. Or maybe it was, and I was just too blind to see it before.

"You know what? I'm tired of this," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm tired of coming home to... this."

He gestured to me. To my pajamas. To the cold food. To the house I kept clean.

"This?" I repeated.

"You. Us," Jason said flatly. "I’ve outgrown you, Tin."

The silence that followed was deafening.

"Excuse me?"

"Look," he started, leaning against the counter, crossing his arms. He looked like he was explaining a simple math problem to a slow child.

"When we got married, it made sense. You were supportive. Simple. Madaling pakisamahan. But now? I’m going places, Tin. My company is about to explode. I need someone who fits my new lifestyle. Someone with class. Someone who challenges me."

Someone like Veronica, my brain supplied.

"So you're saying..." I trembled, "You're breaking up with me? After everything I did for you?"

"I want an annulment," he corrected. "Whatever. Same thing."

He walked past me, heading towards the bedroom. "I’m packing a bag. I’ll stay at a hotel for a few days while you sort your stuff out."

"Sort my stuff out?" I followed him, my blood boiling. "Bahay ko 'to, Jason! We bought this together!"

He stopped at the bedroom door and laughed. A dry, humorless chuckle.

"Check the title, Tin. It’s in my name. Remember? You had bad credit history because of your student loans, so we put it under my name. Technically, this is my asset."

Nanlamig ako.

He was right.

"And the car?" he added. "Mine. The savings account? Joint, but I’m the primary holder."

I watched him enter the bedroom and start throwing clothes into a duffel bag—his gym bag.

"So ano? Palalayasin mo ako?" I screamed. "Saan ako pupunta?!"

"That’s not my problem anymore," he said, casually tossing a shirt into the bag.

"Look, Tin. Don't make this harder than it has to be. You’re a survivor, ‘di ba? You’ll figure it out. Magaling ka naman sa... chores. Mag-apply ka na lang na katulong."

Pak.

The sound echoed in the room.

My hand stung. Jason’s face was turned to the side, a red mark blooming on his cheek.

I slapped him. Hard.

Before I could even process the satisfaction, Jason grabbed my wrist. His grip was tight. Painful.

"Don't you dare," he growled, his eyes flashing with a menace I’d never seen before. He shoved me backward. Not hard enough to knock me over, but hard enough to make me stumble. "Get out. Now. Before I call security."

"You can't do this—"

"I just did. You have one hour. After that, I’m changing the locks."

Forty-five minutes later, I was standing on the sidewalk.

Isang malaking maleta lang ang dala ko. Inside were my clothes, my laptop, and the shattered dignity I was trying to hold together.

Iniwan ko ang Rolex sa mesa. Hindi ko kailangan ‘yon. I didn't want anything that reminded me of him.

Bitbit ko ang maleta habang naglalakad ako sa subdivision. The sun was scorching hot. Tanghaling tapat. Ang bigat ng maleta, pero mas mabigat ang nararamdaman ko.

I stopped by a convenience store just outside the village gate. I needed water. I was dehydrated from crying.

I grabbed a bottle of mineral water and a sandwich. I walked to the counter.

"75 pesos po, Ma'am," the cashier said.

I pulled out my debit card. Beep.

"Declined po," sabi ng cashier.

Kumabog ang dibdib ko. "Try again. Baka error lang."

Beep.

"Declined pa rin po, Ma'am."

I pulled out my credit card. The one intended for groceries.

Beep.

"Ma'am, insufficient funds daw po."

Napatingin ako sa phone ko. I opened my banking app.

Account Balance: PHP 0.00

Looking at the transaction history, I saw a transfer made just thirty minutes ago.

Transfer to: J. Mercado.

Amount: ALL.

He drained it. He drained everything. Even the joint account.

"Ma'am? Bibilhin niyo po ba?" the cashier asked, impatience creeping into her voice. Look at the line behind me.

Ramdam ko ang init sa mukha ko. Hiyang-hiya ako.

"H-hindi na. Sorry," I mumbled.

Ibinalik ko ang tubig at sandwich.

Lumabas ako ng convenience store na parang lantang gulay. Naupo ako sa gutter sa gilid ng kalsada.

Gututon. Uhaw. Walang pera. Walang bahay. Walang asawa.

This was it. This was Rock Bottom. It smelled like vehicle exhaust and despair.

I buried my face in my hands. "Ano na gagawin ko? Uuwi ba ako sa province? Tatanggapin kaya ako ni Mama after ko ipagmalaki na successful ang asawa ko?"

Wait.

Something crinkled in my pocket.

My trench coat pocket. I was still wearing the stupid coat I wore last night because it wouldn't fit in the suitcase.

Kinapa ko ang bulsa.

My fingers brushed against a thick, textured piece of cardstock.

Inilabas ko ‘to. The black business card shone under the harsh sunlight.

ATTICUS VALDERAMA

CEO, Valderama Holdings

I remembered his words.

I don't get mad, Celestina. I get even.

Jason took my house. He took my money. He took my pride. He thought he won because I was just "convenient." He thought I was powerless.

Funny thing about hitting rock bottom—you have nothing left to lose. And a person with nothing to lose is the most dangerous person in the world.

Pinunasan ko ang luha ko. Hindi na ako iiyak. Ubos na ang luha ko para sa kanya.

I grabbed my phone. My battery was at 12%. Enough for one call.

I dialed the number on the card.

Ring... Ring... Ring...

"Speak," a deep, bored voice answered.

"Atticus?" My voice cracked, then I cleared my throat. "It’s Tin. Celestina."

Silence on the other end. For a moment, I thought he hung up.

"You’re late," he finally said. "I expected you to call an hour ago."

"I..." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I’m in. Whatever your plan is. I’m in."

"Good," he replied. "Where are you?"

"Sa labas ng 7-Eleven near my... near Jason’s village."

"Stay there. My driver will pick you up in ten minutes."

"Atticus?"

"What?"

"Gutom ako," I blurted out. Honest to goodness hunger. "And I have no money."

I heard a sigh on the other line. "My driver has snacks. Don't die on me yet, Celestina. We haven't even started the fun part."

Click.

Binaba ko ang phone. For the first time in twenty-four hours, a small, grim smile appeared on my lips.

Humanda ka, Jason. You wanted a challenge?

I’m bringing you a war.